JP7814951B2 - Discharge alarm system, discharge alarm device, and alarm notification method - Google Patents

Description

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a discharge alarm system, a discharge alarm device, and an alarm notification method .

Based on the River Act, a discharge warning system uses sirens, rotating lights, speakers, etc. to accurately inform residents downstream of the risk of rising river water levels due to dam discharge. As described in National Electrical and Electronics Regulations No. 27 (Non-Patent Document 1), a discharge warning system comprises a monitoring station such as a dam management office, and multiple warning stations installed in the downstream area of the dam. The main component of a warning station is a siren device. The siren device consists of a siren that emits a sound and a siren control panel that controls the siren.

There are two types of sirens in use: motor sirens and inverter sirens. Inverter sirens have the advantage of being able to perform inspections with near-silent sounding using the inverter's multi-speed function, and are smaller and lighter than motor sirens. Furthermore, inverter sirens are also more economical, easier to install, and easier to maintain.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-191508 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-206975 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-153798

"Kokuden Tsuushi No. 27 Standard Specifications for Discharge Alarm Devices (September 2018)", [online], [Accessed December 9, 2021], Internet, <URL: https://www.mlit.go.jp/tec/it/denki/kikisiyou/kokudenntsushi27.pdf>

In accordance with the provisions of Non-Patent Document 1, the alarm devices of a dam discharge alarm system undergo a silent inspection test once a day, with the siren remaining silent. However, Non-Patent Document 1 only assumes that the alarm devices at the alarm stations of a dam discharge alarm system will be equipped with a single siren control output circuit. Furthermore, it does not assume that the siren sound pressure can be switched, so there is room for improvement in making effective use of the inverter siren's functions.

Therefore, an object is to provide a discharge alarm system, a discharge alarm device, and an alarm notification method that can control the sound pressure of the siren to improve availability.

According to an embodiment, the discharge alarm system is a discharge alarm system in which a control and monitoring device and an alarm device are connected via a wireless line, and the alarm device operates based on a control signal from the control and monitoring device. The alarm device includes an inverter siren that can switch between multiple sound pressure levels, a mode setting unit, and an inverter siren sound pressure switching unit. The mode setting unit switches the inverter siren's operating mode to a first mode or a second mode, which have different sound pressure levels. The inverter siren sound pressure switching unit causes the inverter siren to sound at a sound pressure corresponding to the control signal and operating mode it is given. The control and monitoring device includes a switching control unit and a sounding control unit. The switching control unit gives a switching control signal to the mode setting unit to set the inverter siren's operating mode to either the first mode or the second mode. The sounding control unit gives a siren control signal to the inverter siren sound pressure switching unit to sound the inverter siren.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a discharge alarm system. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the alarm device 20 shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a list of operable control items in each control mode for multiple alarm stations. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a control sequence relating to switching of sound pressure of the inverter siren 32;

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a discharge alarm system according to an embodiment.
The discharge alarm system is composed of a control and monitoring station 100 and a siren alarm station 200, which can communicate with each other via a wireless transmission line. As with the telemetry system, the discharge alarm system uses wireless lines in the 70 MHz, 400 MHz, and 450 MHz bands. Various signals are exchanged between the control and monitoring station 100 and the siren alarm station 200 over the wireless line in accordance with a predetermined basic transmission format.

The control and monitoring station 100 is a device installed in a dam management office or the like, and controls the siren alarm station 200 to perform alarm operations such as sounding a siren, sounding a simulated sound, and issuing a voice broadcast.
The control and monitoring station 100 includes a control and monitoring device 10 having a wireless device 11, a power supply device 12, an operation console 13, and a printer 14. The wireless device 11 emits radio waves from an antenna 15 and communicates with the siren warning station 200 via a wireless line 300.
Furthermore, the siren alarm station 200, which receives call control from the control monitor station 100, performs an alarm operation and returns the operating status to the control monitor station 100. The control monitor station 100 receives this return signal and prints and displays the operating status of the alarm device 20.

The siren warning station 200 is installed near the downstream river and is a device that makes audio announcements and sounds a siren to urge surrounding residents and people visiting the river to evacuate from the river.
The siren alarm station 200 includes an alarm device 20 with a wireless device 25 , a power supply device 26 , a sound collection microphone 27 , a speaker 28 , an inverter siren control unit 23 , an inverter siren 32 , a rotating light control panel 29 , and a rotating light 33 .
The radio device 25 emits radio waves from an antenna 34 and communicates with the control monitor station 100 via a radio line 300 .
The inverter siren 32 has an inspection control input circuit that uses the inverter's multi-speed function to perform the aforementioned low-speed rotation operation that is nearly silent. The inverter siren 32 also has two types of sound control input circuits that can be set to any sound pressure level, assuming that the sound pressure level is used differently during the day and at night.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the alarm device 20 shown in FIG.
The alarm device 20 shown in Fig. 2 includes an alarm control unit 22 as a standard configuration (solid line block) of an alarm device defined in the standard specification (Non-Patent Document 1). It also includes an inverter siren control unit 23 and an extended monitoring information input unit 24 as additional configurations (dotted line blocks).

The alarm device 20 includes a basic control unit 41 that controls the entire alarm device 20, a radio unit 25 for communicating with the control and monitoring station 100, a modulation and demodulation unit 42, a transmission control unit 43, an alarm control unit 22 for issuing an alarm to the surrounding area, a chime sound output unit 44, an impedance determination unit 45, a monitoring information input unit 46, an audio amplifier 47 (audio amplifiers 1, 2, 3), a speaker 28 (speakers 1, 2, 3), and a sound collection microphone 27 (sound collection microphones 1, 2, 3, 4), a sound collection and return unit 48 for confirming that the siren is sounding when an alarm is issued, a sound collection level determination unit 49, a test unit 50 for checking the alarm operation, and a power supply unit 261 that receives power from the power supply 26 and supplies power to the device.

The alarm device 20 also includes, as additional components, a branch input/output unit 51, a line switching unit 52, a sound generating unit 53 (sound generating units 1, 2, and 3), a relay control unit 54, an extended alarm control unit 221, an extended monitoring information input unit 24, an external output unit 1 (for rotating light) 55, an external output unit 2 (for display board) 56, an external output unit 3 (for river information display device) 57, sound collecting microphones 2-4, speakers 2 and 3, a rotating light control panel 29, a rotating light 33, a display board control panel 58, a display board 59, a river information control panel 60, a river information display device 61, and a station door opener (door switch) 62.

The inverter siren control unit 23 is a control unit implemented as an additional function in the equipment configuration of the alarm device 20 in the siren alarm station 200 when an inverter siren is used as the siren. The inverter siren control unit 23 has a control function for low-speed rotation operation during inspection control. The inverter siren control unit 23 also has a status monitoring function in the event of an inverter failure, as determined by the inverter siren control panel 31.

Furthermore, the alarm device 20 has an inverter siren sound pressure switching unit 21 as a special additional function (double-line block). The inverter siren sound pressure switching unit 21 controls the inverter siren device 30 to sound the inverter siren 32 at the sound pressure in the set operating mode.

The inverter siren sound pressure switching unit 21 inputs a siren control signal from the alarm control unit 22 and performs a siren control output to the inverter siren device 30 according to the sound pressure switching state. The siren control output is provided to the inverter siren control panel 31, which then causes the inverter siren 32 to sound at a sound pressure according to the siren control output.

The inverter siren sound pressure switching unit 21 also receives a sound pressure switching control signal from the alarm control unit 22 and switches the control output circuit for the inverter siren device 30. Furthermore, the inverter siren sound pressure switching unit 21 outputs a switching status signal to the extended monitoring information input unit 24. The inverter siren sound pressure switching unit 21 may be a rack-mounted structure that can be mounted within the alarm device 20 housing, or a wall-mounted or individually housed structure.

Figure 3 shows a list of control items that can be operated in each control mode for multiple alarm stations. Non-Patent Document 1 describes six control modes: all-station sequential control, block sequential control, all-station timer sequential control, block timer sequential control, all-station simultaneous control, and block simultaneous control. It also provides 15 control items: siren 1-3, dummy sound 1-3, broadcast start (microphone), broadcast stop, master station audio generation 1-7, inspection, rotating light ON, rotating light OFF, display board ON, display board OFF, river information display 1-9, OFF, slave station audio generation 1-3, monitoring, forced stop, and combination control 1-8.

In this embodiment, the control items used as a trigger for switching the sound pressure in siren control are either a combination of "display board ON" and "display board OFF," or a combination of "river information displays 1-9" and "river information display OFF." As can be seen from FIG. 3, these control items are unused and can be used as siren control signals, switching control signals, and switching status signals. In this manner, in this embodiment, unused control items are used to switch between daytime and nighttime modes.
In the embodiment, a first mode is an operation mode during the daytime, and a second mode is an operation mode during the nighttime. Of course, it is also possible to set more operation modes than this.

The second mode is for nighttime use, so the sound pressure is lower than the first mode, which is for daytime use. The configuration in Figure 2 provides two siren control output circuits for two different sound pressure siren sound outputs.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below.
4 is a diagram showing an example of a control sequence relating to switching of the sound pressure of the inverter siren 32. A case where the sound pressure of the siren is switched between daytime and nighttime will be described with reference to FIG.

<Siren sound control in daytime mode>
The inverter siren sound pressure switching unit 21 of the alarm device 20 has a mode setting unit S211 as a control function thereof. The mode setting unit S211 sets the sounding mode of the inverter siren to either the daytime mode or the nighttime mode.

When the mode setting unit S211 is in the normal daytime mode, the control and monitoring device 10 sends a siren control signal S101 to the alarm device 20. The alarm device 20 then sends a daytime mode siren control signal S201a to the inverter siren device 30 in accordance with the switching state (daytime mode) of the mode setting unit S211. The inverter siren device 30 then sounds the siren at the daytime mode sound pressure setting in S301a.

<Siren sound control in night mode>
When the switching state of the mode setting unit S211 is the normal daytime mode, the control and monitoring device 10 sends a "night mode ON" switching control signal S102a to the alarm device 20. The alarm device 20, upon receiving this, switches the switching state of the mode setting unit S211 from the daytime mode to the night mode, and returns a switching state (night mode ON) signal S103 to the control and monitoring device 10.

Next, the control and monitoring device 10 sends a siren control signal S101 to the alarm device 20. In response to this, the alarm device 20 sends a night mode siren control signal S201b to the inverter siren device 30 in accordance with the switching state (night mode) of the mode setting unit S211. In response to this, the inverter siren device 30 performs a siren sound operation at the night mode set sound pressure in S301b.

Let's assume that the mode setting unit S211 of the alarm device 20 is in night mode and the control and monitoring device 10 sends a "night mode OFF" switching control signal S102b to the alarm device 20. In this case, the alarm device 20, upon receiving this, switches the switching state of the mode setting unit S211 from night mode to day mode and returns a switching state (night mode OFF) signal S103 to the control and monitoring device 10. In other words, the inverter siren sound pressure switching unit 21 sends a switching state signal to the control and monitoring device 10 that indicates the switching setting state of the operating mode of the inverter siren 32.

According to the above configuration, the alarm device 20 has two systems of output circuits for siren sound control, for outputting sirens with two different sound pressure levels (for example, for daytime and nighttime).
The alarm device 20 may also be provided with a control item and a switching circuit for switching the sound pressure level in the siren control between two levels.
Furthermore, the control and monitoring device 10 can be provided with a function for monitoring the switching state of the sound pressure during siren control.

As described above, according to the embodiment, siren control is possible using the inverter siren's two different sound pressure sound control functions. Therefore, for river managers who operate and manage dam discharge warning systems, it is possible to sound the siren at a lower required sound pressure at night than during the day, taking into account background noise at night, in consideration of noise to residents around the warning station. Furthermore, there is the advantage that in the event of an emergency dam discharge, the siren can be sounded at a higher sound pressure than during normal discharge to convey a sense of urgency and imminence.

As a result, according to the embodiments, it becomes possible to control the sound pressure of the siren, thereby making it possible to provide a discharge alarm system, discharge alarm device, and alarm notification method with improved availability.

Although an embodiment has been described, this embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. This novel embodiment can be embodied in a variety of other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. This embodiment and its variations are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the invention and its equivalents as set forth in the claims.

10...Control and monitoring device, 11...Radio device, 12...Power supply device, 13...Operation console, 14...Printer, 15...Antenna, 20...Alarm device, 21...Inverter siren sound pressure switching unit, 22...Alarm control unit, 23...Inverter siren control unit, 24...Extended monitoring information input unit, 25...Radio device, 26...Power supply device, 27...Sound collection microphone, 28...Speaker, 29...Revolving light control panel, 30...Inverter siren device, 31...Inverter siren control panel, 32...Inverter siren, 33...Revolving light, 34...Antenna, 41...Basic control unit, 42...Modulation and demodulation unit, 43...Transmission control unit, 44...Chime sound output unit, 45...Impedance determination unit, 46...Monitoring information input unit, 47...Audio amplifier, 4 8...sound collection and return unit, 49...sound collection level determination unit, 50...test unit, 51...branch input/output unit, 52...line switching unit, 53...sound generation unit, 54...relay control unit, 58...display board control panel, 59...display board, 60...river information control panel, 61...river information display device, 62...station door open, 100...control monitoring station, 155...external output unit, 200...siren alarm station, 221...extended alarm control unit, 256...external output unit, 261...power supply unit, 300...wireless line, 357...external output unit, S101...siren control signal, S102a...switching control signal, S102b...switching control signal, S103...switching status signal, S201a...siren control signal, S201b...siren control signal, S211...mode setting unit.

Claims (6)

In a discharge alarm system in which a control and monitoring device and an alarm device are connected via a wireless line and the alarm device operates based on a control signal from the control and monitoring device,
The alarm device
An inverter siren that can switch between multiple sound pressure levels,
a mode setting unit that switches the operation mode of the inverter siren between a first mode and a second mode having different sound pressure levels;
an inverter siren sound pressure switching unit that causes the inverter siren to sound at a sound pressure corresponding to a given siren control signal and the operation mode, and transmits a switching state signal indicating a switching setting state of the operation mode of the inverter siren to the control monitoring device ,
The control and monitoring device
a switching control unit that supplies a switching control signal to the mode setting unit to set the operation mode of the inverter siren to either the first mode or the second mode;
A discharge alarm system comprising a sounding control unit that provides the siren control signal to the inverter siren sound pressure switching unit to sound the inverter siren. The discharge alarm system utilizes unused control items in the standard specification for discharge alarm devices of National Electrical and Electronics Standards No. 27 as the siren control signal, the switching control signal, and the switching status signal.
The discharge warning system of claim 1 . the mode setting unit switches and sets the operation mode in association with a time period;
The discharge warning system of claim 1 . The second mode of the mode setting unit is an operation mode in which the sound pressure of the sound is lower than the sound pressure of the sound in the first mode,
The daytime operation mode sounds in the first mode, and the nighttime operation mode sounds in the second mode.
The discharge warning system of claim 3. An alarm device that is connected to a control and monitoring device via a wireless line and operates based on a control signal from the control and monitoring device,
An inverter siren that can switch between multiple sound pressure levels,
a mode setting unit that switches the operation mode of the inverter siren between a first mode and a second mode having different sound pressure levels;
A discharge alarm device comprising an inverter siren sound pressure switching unit that causes the inverter siren to sound at a sound pressure corresponding to a given siren control signal and the operating mode, and transmits a switching status signal indicating the switching setting status of the inverter siren's operating mode to the control monitoring device . An alarm notification method for a discharge alarm system in which an alarm device equipped with an inverter siren capable of switching between multiple sound pressure levels is connected to a control monitoring device via a wireless line, and the alarm device operates based on a control signal from the control monitoring device,
The control and monitoring device provides a switching control signal to the alarm device to switch the operation mode of the inverter siren to a first mode or a second mode having different sound pressure levels.
the control and monitoring device providing a siren control signal to the alarm device;
the alarm device blows the inverter siren at a sound pressure according to the given siren control signal and the operation mode;
the alarm device transmits a switching state signal indicating a switching setting state of the operation mode of the inverter siren to the control monitoring device;
An alarm notification method comprising: